NCAA softball still dominated by regions

No ACC teams advance.
It's all Pac Ten, Big 12, SEC, and 1 team from C-USA (Houston; btw the Cougars have asst coach Abbie Sims , former NCSU pitcher).

ECU came close to advancing.

 

I'll bet this thread gets moved to Next Level that nobody reads.

Sure would be nice to talk about the kids that were on here from past years on this level.

I posted a thread on the Next Level about Caitlin Sandy from Jack Britt and not many have read it. Relatively speaking.

 

It is very sad that the ACC did not have any schools make it past the first round. I wish I had the answer for why. I have made a few observations over the past couple of months which leads me to somewhat understand why. We all know that to have a successful program you have to have qualified coaches and talented players. Is the ACC getting the talented players and qualified coaches? Do the ACC schools offer the best facilities? How often do you see an ACC softball game on TV? You see plenty of ACC football and basketball.

The best coaches are probably going to go where they can get the most money, jmo. The best players are probably going to do the same thing. The fringe benefits to an elite player is the kicker. Things like a new stadium, how many games played on national tv, fan attendance, world series appearances or chance to appear. A state of the art work out facility, several uniforms, schedule and playing time all factor in when trying to get the best talent.

I think the ACC falls short in several areas. I don't remember even seeing an ACC game on TV this season. I saw Tenn. play eight times this year. The SEC and PAC 10 was all over satellite tv. Several of the teams referred to their new stadiums. Each time I saw Florida play they had different uniforms and batting helmets. If I am a player that could play in the SEC, PAC 10 or ACC where do think I would go. East coast softball is catching up with the west coast and I hope that the SEC wins the WS this year. The ACC coaches have to do a better job keeping the talent at home. Don't let Tenn. get that player from Asheville, or Louisville get the one from Lexington. I really hope the ACC can get it going in the near future. Yes, I'm frustrated too.

 

No Chance

The top level programs in the PAC10, SEC, BIG12 get a big portion of the top players in the country. It is just plain hard for most other conferences in college fastpitch to compete against teams that have that much speed, power and top notch pitchers on one team. You would almost think that the NCAA would go to 1A and 1AA sort of like football does. The same teams make it to the World Series every year. The small schools really dont have a chance. If you think they do, wake up like I did. LOL

 

I saw FSU play Carolina in the ACC title game on TV a week or so ago.

Carolina was in it last year! Donna Papa is among the best coaches in the country.

 

If she is then what is the problem. It is not like Carolina is not one of the top schools in the country that young ladies want to go to.

 

Then shouldnt small schools play D2 instead? Besides football, is there any other sport that breaks it down like that?

 

ACC Schools

The ACC schools have done fairly well. Along with ECU this yr. Lets see last yr UNC won 2 games aganist Nebraska both shut out no hitters and took Wash to the last inning. GTech FSU VTech have been in the 1st, 2nd rounds or WS in the past 3 yrs. V Tech had National Player of Year 3 yrs ago. GTech had runner up for NPY last year. So I don't see that big of a problem. Michigan has been the only team this side of the Mississippi to win the WS in what the past 25 yrs. This yr Carolina played FLA. ALB. USC. Notre Dame, Fordham, Miss St, Oregon, Penn St and all but 2 made the NCAA WS playoffs. Coaches.... Coach Papa is 1 of only 10 coaches in the NCAA to have won more than 1000 games in any sport. That's better that Bobby Knight or Coach K or Pat Summit or Dean Smith......... Beverly Smith left Carolina for USC and did very well there in her 1st yr. ACC softball is alive a well. This may be the yr that the SEC gets a WS win. My DD would love to play at UNC or any ACC school if given the chance.

 

What Stanlysoftball said!

 

Thanks! Exactly what I would have said if I had known all that!